The JNU administration has requested the students and teachers to end their hunger strike due to worsening weather conditions and deteriorating health of the students.

The JNU administration has requested the students and teachers to end their hunger strike due to worsening weather conditions and deteriorating health of the students.(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has constituted a team of officials to resolve issues being raised by teachers and students who are on hunger strike.

The stir entered 12th day on Monday. The strike is in protest of the punishment given to the students after anti-national slogans were allegedly shouted at an event to mark the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Three students, including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, had been arrested following the incident.

The university panel consists of two rectors, registrar, and the dean of students welfare.

The JNU administration has requested the students and teachers to end their hunger strike due to worsening weather conditions and deteriorating health of the students.

Umar Khalid, who was on a hunger strike for the past 11 days, was taken to AIIMS on Monday after his health deteriorated. He withdrew from the hunger strike.

Khalid, one of the three students arrested on charges of sedition, was rusticated by the university for one semester for his involvement in the February 9 event.

“Umar was forced to discontinue the hunger strike due to failing health. He had severe cramps in the evening because of low sodium-potassium level in his blood following which he was taken to AIIMS post midnight for saline drips,” JNU students’ union said in a statement.

Seven others, including Kanhaiya Kumar, had to discontinue the strike after their health worsened.

Twelve people are still on hunger strike.

In an appeal issued by the university it says, “Solutions can be found only through peaceful dialogue and discussion and not through measures that can have long term impact on health and adversely affect the academic life on campus.”

This is second such appeal issued by the university.

However, students say they will end their protest only after the punishment recommended by the high level enquiry committee is revoked.

As many as 17 students were punished for being part of the controversial event with rustication, monetary fines and orders to leave hostel.